Why do we get floaters in the eyes and what causes them to appear?

Floaters in the eyes are caused by tiny bits of protein or other material in the vitreous, the gel-like substance that fills the eye. These floaters cast shadows on the retina, which we perceive as small, moving specks or strands in our field of vision. They are more common as we age due to changes in the vitreous, but can also be caused by eye injuries or certain eye conditions.